Relay and repeater.



W. FINN.

RELAY AND-REPEATER.

APPMATIOLHLED'DEC.21. 19H.

1,164,273. I Patented Dec.14,1915.

nprovements in Relays a rich the following 18 a sp vi vention relates improvements in 15s and repeaters, pa ticularly relays and tended for high speed operation. ays and repeaters herein illustrated use in cmrcnt impulses succeed each other through the line at rates far in excess of those of hand transmission; but my invention is not limited to use in automatic teleratus employed, also by What is lcaown as the KR- factor of the line (K representing the distributed electrostatic capacity of the line, and R the ohmic resistance of the line, it having been proved by extensive experiments that the length of time required for a current to reach its maximum strength at the distant end of the line varies directly as a product of the capacity K and the resistance R). These conditions prevent the recording of a signaling pulse at the receiving station until some appreciable time after that signaling pulse has started from the transmitting station. v

Before a signaling impulse can actuate the ordinary main line magnetic signal receiving devices, the main line current, and the magentism created thereby in the main line signaling device, must necessarily rise to a value such as is required to effect transfer of the armature of that signal receiving destops. If the time interval here involved can be reduced in any Way through the medium of local appliances, materially higher speed of transmission becomes possible to-- gether with better signals.

a k. A

ore repeaters have always, lagged sli htly behind the oper c corresponding transmitters. on of the repeater herein are s no such lag; the repeater bebegins to operate, and in general the repeater will have completed its operation before the transmitter has completed the corresponding operation. Thereby the lagging effect of the former repeater is entirely overcome. It is obvious that the avoidance this lag very greatly quickens the operation of the circuits comprising repeaters. r

My invention comprises means whereby the armature of the receiving instrument is carried over positively from the one stop to the other once that armature has been started in motion; the completion of such movement of the armature trom the one contact stop to, the other being assured, even though the impulse Which started such movement terminate before the conclusion of such movement; and further comprises means whereby such movement of the armature is started, by local means, upon the diminution of the main line current which previously held that armature stationary against one or the other of its stops, and whereby the armature is caused to anticipate in its operation, the arrival of the neXt succeeding line signaling impulse. And my invention comprises various other features, all as herein after described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The objects of my invention are to in crease the eflective speed of transmission'of tion With reference to the accompanying drawings, and Will then point out the novel features in claims.

In said-drawings: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically 'a telegraph line comprising transmitting apparatus (illustrated diagrammatically, and a receiving relay, the lat- .rate the instant the corresponding a ser] ter embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the use of my relay as a telegraph repeater.

Referring first to Fig. 1, numeral 1 designates a transmitting key having contact stops 2 and 3 and current supply means at and 5 connected to stops 2 and 3 respectively. The particular current supply means indicated are dynamo electric machines of opposite polarities; though as is well understood, other sources of current supply may be employed; the'particular arrangement shown being a common arrange ment for transmission by current impulses of alternately opposite direction. The key 1 may be vibrated either by hand or by any suitable means, and Tdo not limit myself to any particular means for vibratingthat key in accordance with telegraphic or other signals. The key 1 may be, for example, the movable contact arm of a Wheatstone transmitter or any other suitable type of automatic or machine transmitter. 6 designates the line conductor. v

The receiving relay comprises an armature lever 7, indicated in this instance as -a pivotally supported lever playing between contact stops 8 and 9. This armature lever 7 may be understood to be a magnetized lever, similar to the magnetized armature levers employed in so-called polar relays, and the rectangle 10 may be understood to represent one pole of a magnet energizing this relay armature lever 7. On opposite sides of the lever 7 (in the particular arrangement shown) are electro magnets 1111, 1212 and 1313, each pair of magnet spools arranged to influence the lever 7 just as the magnet spools of an' ordinary polar relay act-uate the armature lever of such relay. lvVhile T have shown the spools 1111, 1212 and 1313 as separate spools, for clearness of diagraminatir illustration, it ,will be understood that in practice only one pair of spools may, and com'monly will, be employed, such spools each having three different windings corre sponding to the windings 11, 12 and It is not uncommon in polar relays to provide each spool with two or more separate windings; but it is common for clearness of illustration, to indicate such separate windings, in diagrammatic drawings, as if such separate windings were on different spools.

14 designates alocal relay which may be understood to be a polar relay and to be capable of operating, by means of contact stops 15 and 16, and its armature 17, any desired local signal receiving or signal repeating or translating apparatus; or the armature 17 may operate such signal receiving or signal repeating or translating apparatus mechanically; this being, for present purposes, an immaterial detail; or the instrument 151 may be itself a sounder; and for present purposes, the relay 14; may be regarded as the local. recelving instrument of the telegraph system.

.ticular function of the opposing windings or coils 12 is to develop a polarity of magnetism that shall always be opposed to the magnetism created by the main line coils 11, the magnetism created by the opposing coils 12 .not being so strong, however, as that created by the working current of the main line 6 incoils 11. The particular function of the accelerating coils 13 is, to carry the armature 7 across the gap between stops 8 and 9, once the armature lever. 7 has been set in motion as hereinafter described.

Fig. 1 shows the apparatus with its movable parts in the positions occupied with the transmitting key 1 in contact with contact stop 2 and with the apparatus at rest. Arrows indicate the relative directions of flow of current with the parts at rest in the positions shown. As indicated by such arrows, the current from generator 4 in main line 6 tends to hold armature lever 7 to the left in contact with stop 8.

There-is a local generator 18 supplying current to the opposing coils 12, as follows :From the positive pole of generator 18- (negative pole grounded, in the arrangement shown) through balancing resistance 19 to 20 and thence through coil 21 of local relay 14: to resistance R, thence through such resistance R and coil 22 of relay 14 to op-' posing coils 12, and through those coils to contact stop 8, and thence through armature lever 7 to ground at 28. The'current from generator 18 through the opposite balancing resistance, 24:, passes directly to ground at 23 through armature lever 7, and does not affect the opposing coils 12; but because of resistance 25:, the circuit through such reslstance 24 does not completely short the c1rcu1t,.as traced above, through resistance ture lever 7 over to its stop 3 with a force that not only insures solidity of contact with that stop but renders the armature indilicr ent to inductive disturbances in line Ger elsewhere that would otherwise affect movement of said armature leverfi'.

It will thus be seen that the movement of the armature lever ay be completed before the movement of the transmitting key 1 is completed; that the movement of armature lever '7 may actually begin before trans mitting key 1 has made contact with its stop 3, and before the next signaling impulse in the line, to which impulse such movement of the armature lever 7 corresponds, has even begun. Brief as the no current interval in the line is it is a measurable interval. Former signal receiving apparatus have, necessarily, remained stationary (except as affected falsely by induced currents and the like) during the no current interval, and have commenced their operation only after the conclusion of the no current interval and after the succeed ing main line impulse has risen to the value necessary to actuate the armature of the receiving instrument. In contradistinction to the operation of former signal receiving apparatus my signal receiving apparatus be ginsto operate immediately upon the beginning of the no current interval, and may complete its operation before the end of that no current interval. There is therefore, an entire absence of the. lag heretofore obtaining with receiving apparatus as compared with the corresponding transmitting apparatus. But'whether or'not the operation of the receiving instrument be completed before the end of the no'current interval is unimportant. as no derangement of the apparatus will result from completion of the movement of the armature 7 before the current impulses resulting from contact of transmitting key 1 with stop 3, has risen to a value suflicient to affect coils 11. The fact that the armature lever 7 begins to move immediately upon the beginning of the no current interval renders that armature substantially immune to the action of induced currents and the like in the main line 6, during such no current in' terval, because the armature 7 is, during 1 from stop 3 to s'topQ.

coils con and liscuarge is sudden irom generator lb coils l2 and the is established in a direction opposite to its tormer direction; 6. a, is established through balancing sistance 2i, conductors 27 and 28, coils l2, coil 22 oi relay ll, resistance it, coil 31 oi relay ll, and conductor 29. to contact stop 9 and thence through armature lover I to ground at 23; the armature l? oi? relay ll is thereby reversed, and the coils linow tend to move armature lever? away from stop 9; by this time the signaling impulse in line '6, due to contact if transmitting key 1 with stop 3'. will have been established; or it not, the discharge from condenser 25 still passing through coils 13. will be suliicient to maintain armature lever 7 against stop 9, even against the inlluence of opposing coils 12. The capacity of Cs :1- denser 25 is regulated. with reference to the normal speed ofoperation of transn'iitting key 1. so that, it necessary. the discharge from the condenser will persist until, after the no current interval in the line, the succeeding signaling impulse rises to sul'licient valueto overcome the influence o'l op-' posing coils 12 The condenser 25 of course charges immediately upon the reestablishment of current flow through the opposing coils l2. and thus is in condition to act again upon reverse movement of transmitting key In such reverse movement the action is precisely similar to that above described, the'current in the opposing coils 12 being cut off the instant armature lever 7 leaves the stop S), and the condenser 25 discharging through the accclerah ing coils 13, the instant the circuit through coils 12 is broken, so carrying the armature over against the contact stop 8.

In Fig. 2 I illustrate an application of my repeater. In this figure. l designates a transmitting key or equivalent instrument.

as in Fig. 1, such key 1 playing between stops 2 and 3 to which are connected sources of current supply 4 and 5 having opposite poles connected to stops 2 and 3 respectively. 6 designates the line leading from this transmitting 1 to the repeater. 7, and 6 designates the other line leading to the repeater. Instrument 7 is provided. as in Fig. 1, with main line coils 11 opposing coils 12 and accelerating coils 13; also with contact stops 8 and 9. In this arrangement I have indicated the coils 12 as located in a leak circuit or derived circuit 30 leading i'rom line 6 through coils of a so-called leak relay 31 to ground; such circuit containing a resistance lt; and l have shown the Condenser bridged across the terminals ofthis resistance R in a circuit 32 passing through the accelerating coils 13. To the contact stops 8 and 9 of repeater 7 are connected peater against stop 8, there will be current' from the positive pole of generator 33 through stop 8 and the armature of repeater relay 7 and line 6 to the end of that line; and that from the line 6 there will be a leak current through the magnets of leak relay 31 and opposing coils 12, such leak currentenergizing the coils 12 to tend to move the armature of instrument 7 to the right, though no such movement takes place while key 1 is in the position shown. But the instant that key 1 is mo ed to the right, breaking the current from generator l, the leakcurrent from generator 38 through circuit 80 will start the armature of instrument 7 to the right; and while the current in the leakcircuit will immediatelv cease upon the 1' starting of that movement of the armature stop 9 and armature of relay 7 and line 6",

there will be a current through the leak circuit and opposing coils 12 tending to move'the armature of relay 7 to the left, such tendency, however, being weaker than the tendency "of main line coils 11 to hold the armature to the right. Condenser 25 will recharge and upon the beginning of the next movement of transmitter key 1 tothe left, the opposing'coils 12 will start the armature of relay 7 toward the left, such armature being carried over against stop 8 by the discharge of condenser 25 through circuit 32 and accelerating coils 19."

lt willthus be seen that the repeater 7 will repeat into line 6*, the signals received from line 6. It will also be apparent that the leak relay 31 will operate in accordance with the signals transmitted as described through line 6 and that this relay 31, like the relay 14 of Fig. 1, may operate local signal receiving m nice-era or signal. repeating or translating apparatus, or may itself be a sounder.

Because, during its movement, the armature 7 of either the instrument shown in Fig. 1 or the instrument shown in Fig. 2 is under the influence of the accelerating coils during its movement, these instruments are practically free from disturbance due to inductive interference and the like. Because the armatures of these instruments start to move, in correspondence with any movement of the corresponding transmitter, the instant that transmitter begins to move, lag in the operation of these instruments is entirely avoided and thereby the defects of line capacity are in large measure eliminated and the operation of the circuit is very greatly quickened. In practical applications of these instruments to automatic VVheatstone circuits the speed of these circuits has been increased by more than 100% of what was attainable under the ordinary method of working. lhese instruments are highly sensitive to weak signaling impulses and are also relatively insensitive to extraneous disturbing influences, and, therefore, can be operated successfully over longer lines than former instruments for-the same service, and

can be worked at higher than the usual rates of speed. A. further important advantage of these instruments is that there is absolutely no tendency to spark, or arc, at the relay contact points; which contact points can, therefore, be adjusted more closely for high speed work than is the case with ordinary relays. This immunity from sparking and its, consequences, is due to the fact that in addition to the single polarity arrangement in the contacts of the relay, there are two continuous paths through which the shunted condenser. may discharge, viz :one around the high resistance shunt and the other through the relay 14: andopposing coils 12; therefore the-tendency to discharge across the break points of the relay (which is a characteristic of the ordinary shuntedcondenser arrangement), is entirely obviated. 1

sition of such armature arranged to move such armature from either of its two normal positions to the opposite position upon decrease of magnetization of such main'cireuit armaturednfluencing means incident to reversal of magnetism of such main circuit means, and in advance of the reversal of magnetism of such main circuit means.

2. A polarized relay or like electric instrument adapted for actuation by reversal of polarity in a main circuit to which it may be connected and comprising a movable polarized armature, main-circuit electromagnetic means arranged to influence said armature, and other means for reversing the position of such armature arranged to move such armature from either of its two normal positions to the opposite position upon de crease of magnetization of such main circuit armature-influencing means incident to reversal of magnetism of such circuit means, and in advance of thercversal of magnetism of such main circuit means, in combination With automatic means for reversing the action of such armature reversing means upon such armature upon the completion of movement of the armature in either direction.

8. A polarized relay or like electric in' strument adapted for actuation by reversal of polarity in a main circuit to Which it may be connected, and comprising a mov- ,able armature, main-circuit electro-magnetic means controlling such armature and other electromagnetic means for actuating such armature and a circuit therefor which is closed vvhen said armature is in either of its extreme positions, said other electromagnetic means arranged to move the armature from either of its two normal positions to the opposite position upon a predetermined decrease of magnetization of such main circuit armature-influencing means.

4'. A polarized relay orlike electric instrument adapted for actuation by reversal of polarity in a main circuit to which it may be connected, and comprising a movable armature, main-circuit electromagnetic means controlling such armature and other electromagnetic means for actuating such armature and a circuit therefor which is closed When said armature is in either of its extreme positions, said other electromagnetic means arranged to move the armature from either of its two normal positions to the opposite position upon a predetermined decrease of magnetization of such main circuit armature-influencing means, in combination With automatic means for reversing the action of such armature reversing means upon reversal or" position of such armature 5. A relay or like electric instrument comprising a movable polarized armature, in combination with main circuit magnet coils, and local magnet coils and means controlling the same arranged to cause the armature to move to a reverse position upon de crease of magnetization of the mam 1111s coils, and in anticipation of a next succeeding opposite magnetization of such main linecoils.

6. A relay or like electric instrument comprising a movable polarized armature, in combination With main circuit magnet coils, and local magnet coils and means controlling the same arranged to cause the armature to move to a reverse position upon de crease of magnetization of the main line coils, and in anticipation of the next succeeding-opposite magnetization of such main line coils, and comprising automatic means for reversing the action of such local magnet coils upon reversal of the position of such armature.

7. A polarized relay or likeelectric instrument adapted for actuation by reversal of polarity in a main circuit to Which it may be connected, and comprising a movable polarized armature, main circuit electro-magnetic means arranged to influence said armature, and other opposing electro magnetic means, normally opposing as to such armature, but exerting an influence Weaker than, the influence of said maincircuit electro-magnetic means, upon saidarmature.

8. A polarized relay or like electric instrument adapted for actuation by reversal of polarity in a maincircuit to which it may be connected, and comprising a movable polarized armature, main-circuit electro-magnetic means arranged to influence said armature, other opposing electro-magnetimeans, normally opposing as to such armature, but exerting an influence weaker than, the influence of said main-circuit electro-magnetic means, upon said armature, in combination With automatic means for reversing the action of such opposing means upon the armature upon the completion of movement or" the armature in either direction.

9; 'A polarized relay or like electric instrument adapted for actuation by reversal of polarity in a main circuit to Which it may be connected, and comprising a movable polarized armature, main-circuit electro magnetic means arranged to influence said armature, and other opposing electro-magnetic means, normally opposing as to such armature, but exerting an influence Weaker than, the influence of said main-circuit electro-magnetic means, upon said armature, means for terminating the influence of such opposing means upon the beginning of movement of the armature, and accelerating means arranged to influence the armature in the same sense in which that armature Was previously influenced by such opposing means and arranged to begin to influence such armature When the opposing means ceases to influence such armature.

10. 'A polarized relay or like electric instrument adapted for actuation by reversal of polarity in a main circuit to which it may be connected, and comprising a movable polarized armature,main-circuit electro such armature when the opposing means ceases to influence such armature, in combination with automatlc means for reversing the action of said opposing means and said accelerating means upon completion of the movement of the armature in either direction.

11. A relay or like electrlc lnstrument comprising a movable polarized armature and mam clrcuit magnet colls mfluencing the same, in combination with opposing its .magnet coils and accelerating magnet coils also influencing said armature, and circuits, circuit control means, and sources of current supply causing the opposing coils to QXGIt'OII said armature normally an influonce in opposition to, and weaker than, the influence of themain circuit magnet coils on the armature, and causing such influence of the opposing coils to cease when the armature moves to a reverse position, and

causing the accelerating coils to exert upon such armature, during such movement to a reverse position, an influence tending to so move such armature to its reverse position.

12. A relay or like electric instrument comprising a movable polarized armature and main' circuit magnet coils influencing the same, in combination with opposing "magnet coils and accelerating magnet coils also influencing said armature, and cn'cuits,

circuit control means, and sources of current supply causing the opposing coils to exert on said armature normally an influence in opposition to, and Weaker than, the influence of the main circuit magnet coils on the armature, and causing such influence of the opposing coils to cease when the armature moves to a reverse position, and

causing the accelerating coils to exert upon such armature, during such movement to a reverse position, an influence tending to so move such armature to its reverse position, and means for reversing the direction of influence of the opposing and accelerating coils.

13. A- relay or like electric instrument comprising a movable polarized armature.

and main circuit magnet coils therefor, in combination with opposing magnet coils and a local circuit normally energizing such opposing coils in opposition to the main circuit coils, and circuit control means operated 'by such armature and arranged to reverse the action of such opposing coils upon each re- .versal of position of said armature.

14. A relay or like electric instrument comprising a movable polarized armature and main circuit magnet coils therefor, in combination with opposing magnet coils and a local circuit normally energizing such opposing coils in opposition to the main circuit coils, circuit control means operated by such armature and arranged to reverse the action of such opposing coils upon each reversal of position of said armature, and accelerating coils and circuit means therefor which energize such accelerating coils in such sense as to cause such accelerating coils to influence the armature to carry it across from one extreme position to. the other. i

15. A relay or like. electric instrument comprising a movable polarized armature and main circuit magnet coils therefor, in combination with opposing magnet coils and a local circuit normally energizing such opposing coils in opposition to the main circuit coils, circuit control means "operated by such armature and arranged to reverse the action of such opposing coils upon each reversal of position of said armature, and accelerating coils and circuit means therefor which energize such accelerating coils in such sense as to cause such accelerating coils to influence the armature to carry it across from one ergtreme position to the other and including means for reversing the direction of influence of the accelerating coils upon said armature with each reversal of position of such armature.

'16. A relay or like electric instrument comprising a movable polarized armature, and main circuit magnet coils therefor, in combination with opposing magnet coils and a circuit means therefor causing said opposing magnet coils to'influence such armature in opposition to the main magnet coils, accelerating coils adapted also to influence said armature, and circuit means for energizing such accelerating coils comprising a condenser charged from the energizing circuit of the opposing coils and arranged to discharge through the accelerating coils, upon the commencement of movement 'of such "armature, and in a direction to cause such magnet coils and a circuit therefor passing through the armature and the said contact pieces, and arranged to reverse the mag netization of said opposing coils with each reversal of the position of such armature, and to magnetize such opposing coils in opposition to, but Weaker than, the existing magnetization of the main coils, and accelerating coils adapted also to influence said armature, and a circuit for said accelerating coils constituting a loop from the circuit of the opposing coils and including a condenser arranged to be charged from the circuit of the opposing coils and to discharge through the accelerating coils, upon interruption of the circuit of the opposing coils,

and in a direction to magnetize said accelerating coils to carry the armature 1n the direction 1n Wlnch it is already moved.

18. A relay or like electric instrument comprising in combination a movable polarized armature, main circuit magnet coils therefor, opposing magnet coils and means for controlling and energizing the same causing the opposing coils to exert an in fluence upon the armature in opposition to, but weaker than, the influence of the main coils, and accelerating coils and means operating the same causing suchaccelerating coils to influence the armature to-complete any movement already begun.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

' WILLIAM 'FINN. lVitnesses:

FRANK KITTON, ,HERBERT' W. DRAKE. 

